WWF’s 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Launch

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In 2011, WWF will mark five decades of concerted effort to preserve our planet’s biodiversity, and to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature.

Fifty years ago, a small group of concerned scientists, naturalists, business and political leaders joined together to save our Earth’s wildlife from extinction. WWF, the organization that they founded, has since grown into the world’s leading conservation organization. Today, WWF, or the World Wide Fund for Nature, works in more than 100 countries around the globe and is supported by 5 million people worldwide.

To mark this auspicious occasion in Malaysia, Bank Negara has minted special WWF Commemorative Coins.

“WWF has come a long way since its creation in 1961 and we have much to celebrate: more than a billion hectares protected forests and fisheries moving towards sustainability, species including the giant panda and the great whales brought back from the brink of extinction, and so much more. Today, WWF is the most recognized conservation organization on Earth,” said His Royal Highness Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah.

“We have achieved so much these past few years. Yet there is much work to be done. The 2011 Living Planet Report shows that we are currently living at a rate that consumes 1.5 planets worth of natural resources. If we are going to ensure our food and freshwater security, as well as our good quality of life in the years to come, we must take action to sustainably manage our resources, starting today. Businesses need to shift towards a model of environmental sustainability. Individuals need to be educated and empowered so that they can make more sustainable lifestyle choices,” said Dato’ Dr Dionysius Sharma, urging corporations to engage with WWF-Malaysia towards sustainable business practices.

The commemorative coins series draws inspiration from images of the nation’s endangered species of animals such as the tiger, rhinoceros, tapir, elephant and turtle. The centre of the coin features the image of forests to reflect WWF’s efforts in environmental protection work, from conserving endangered or threatened wildlife animals in Malaysia, to protecting our forest habitat vital for their survival. The words “50th Anniversary” is to commemorate 50 years of WWF’s efforts to tackle environmental issues that affect the world, while the years “1961-2011” signifies WWF’s period of existence. The commemorative coins issued consist of the gold, silver and Nordic gold proof coins.

Background of WWF

For the past 50 years, WWF’s focus has evolved from localized efforts in favour of single species and individual habitats to an ambitious strategy to preserve biodiversity and achieve sustainable development across the globe.

Working with governments, other NGOs, businesses, scientists and many other people, WWF achieved some remarkable things during our first half-century. In the early days, WWF focus was on saving individual flagship species – and it’s no exaggeration to say that, without WWF, species like black rhinos, tigers and mountain gorillas might now exist only in zoos or books.

WWF helped win protection for many of the planet’s most remarkable places and important ecosystems. For the past 50 years, WWF helped establish over a billion hectares of protected habitat – that’s an area larger than China or Canada. WWF continues to work to protect other vital habitats, join protected areas together, manage them better, and involve and support the local communities and indigenous people who live there. WWF also work to improve the way forests, farmland, fisheries, river basins and other places are managed, promoting practices that support people and nature.

WWF played a leading role in bringing about international agreements to protect the natural world, from the regulation of trade in threatened and endangered species, to the moratorium on commercial whaling, to the Kyoto Protocol. WWF influenced the policies of governments, changed the way leading companies do business, and helped millions of people make a better living through conserving their natural resources.

About WWF-Malaysia

WWF-Malaysia (World Wide Fund for Nature-Malaysia), the national conservation trust, currently runs more than 75 projects covering a diverse range of environmental protection work. Since 1972, WWF-Malaysia has worked on important conservation projects, from saving endangered species such as tigers and turtles, to protecting our highland forests, rivers and seas. We also undertake environmental education and advocacy work to achieve conservation goals. By conserving our natural resources, WWF-Malaysia is helping to protect our livelihoods, food and water supply, thus securing our good quality of life and our children’s bright future. We thank our supporters whose donations enable our conservation work. If you would like to donate to WWF-Malaysia or learn more about our projects, please call: +603-78033772 or visit our website at: http://www.wwf.org.my/

WWF’s mission

WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature by: